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all appearance been torn in the bowels of the rock by
the terrific force of some explosive gas。 At length
this cave ended in a third passage； through which
gleamed a faint glow of light。
I heard Ayesha give a sigh of relief as this light
dawned upon us。
〃It is well；〃 she said； 〃prepare to enter the very
womb of the Earth； wherein she doth conceive the Life
that ye see brought forth in man and beastay； and in
every tree and flower。〃
Swiftly she sped along； and after her we stumbled as
best we might； our hearts filled like a cup with
mingled dread and curiosity。 What were we about to
see？ We passed down the tunnel； stronger and stronger
the light beamed； reaching us in great flashes like
the rays from a lighthouse； as one by one they are
thrown wide upon the darkness of the waters。 Nor was
this all； for with the flashes came a soul…shaking
sound like that of thunder and of crashing trees。 Now
we were through it； andoh； heavens！
We stood in a third cavern； some fifty feet in length
by perhaps as great a height； and thirty wide。 It was
carpeted with fine white sand； and its walls had been
worn smooth by the action of I know not what。 The
cavern was not dark like the others； it was filled
with a soft glow of rose…colored light； more beautiful
to look on than anything that can be conceived。 But at
first we saw no flashes； and heard no more of the
thunderous sound。 Presently； however； as we stood in
amaze； gazing at the wonderful sight； and wondering
whence the rosy radiance flowed； a dread and beautiful
thing happened。 Across the far end of the cavern； with
a grinding and crashing noisea noise so dreadful and
awe…inspiring that we all trembled； and Job actually
sank to his kneesthere flamed out an awful cloud or
pillar of fire； like a rainbow many…colored； and like
the lightning bright。 For a space； perhaps forty
seconds； it flamed and roared thus； turning slowly
round and round； and then by degrees the terrible
noise ceased； and with the fire it passed awayI know
not whereleaving behind it the same rosy glow that
we had first seen。
〃Draw near； draw near！〃 cried Ayesha； with a voice of
thrilling exultation。 〃Behold the very Fountain and
Heart of Life as it beats in the bosom of the great
world。 Behold the substance from which all things draw
their energy； the bright Spirit of the Globe； without
which it cannot live； but must grow cold and dead as
the dead moon。 Draw near； and wash you in the living
flames； and take their virtue into your poor frames in
all its virgin strengthnot as it now feebly glows
within your bosoms； filtered thereto through all the
fine strainers of a thousand intermediate lives； but
as it is here in the very fount and seat of earthly
Being。〃
We followed her through the rosy glow up to the head
of the cave； till at last we stood before the spot
where the great pulse beat and the great flame passed。
And as we went we became sensible of a wild and
splendid exhilaration； of a glorious sense of such a
fierce intensity of Life that the most buoyant moments
of our strength seemed flat and tame and feeble beside
it。 It was the mere effluvium of the flame； the subtle
ether that it cast off as it passed； working on us；
and making us feel strong as giants and swift as
eagles。 We reached the head of the cave； and gazed at
each other in the glorious glow； and laughed aloud
even Job laughed； and he had not laughed for a week
in the lightness of our hearts and the divine
intoxication of our brains。 I know that I felt as
though all the varied genius of which the human
intellect is capable had descended upon me。 I could
have spoken in blank verse of Shakespearian beauty；
all sorts of great ideas flashed through my mind； it
was as though the bonds of my flesh had been loosened；
and left the spirit free to soar to the empyrean of
its native power。 The sensations that poured in upon
me are indescribable。 I seemed to live more keenly； to
reach to a higher joy； and sip the goblet of a subtler
thought than ever it had been my lot to do before。 I
was another and most glorified self； and all the
avenues of the Possible were for a space laid open to
the footsteps of the Real。 Then； suddenly； while I
rejoiced in this splendid vigor of a new…found self；
from far； far away there came a dreadful muttering
noise； that grew and grew to a crash and a roar； which
combined in itself all that is terrible and yet
splendid in the possibilities of sound。 Nearer it
came； and nearer yet； till it was close upon us；
rolling down like all the thunder…wheels of heaven
behind the horses of the lightning。 On it came； and
with it came the glorious blinding cloud of many…
colored light； and stood before us for a space；
turning； as it seemed to us； slowly round and round；
and then； accompanied by its attendant pomp of sound；
passed away I know not whither。
So astonishing was the wondrous sight that one and all
of us； save _i_ She _i_ ； who stood up and stretched
her hands towards the fire； sank down before it； and
hid our faces in the sand。
When it was gone； Ayesha spoke。 〃Now； Kallikrates；〃
she said； 〃the mighty moment is at hand。 When the
great flame comes again thou must stand in it。 First
throw aside thy garments； for it will burn them；
though thee it will not hurt。 Thou must stand in the
flame while thy senses will endure； and when it
embraces thee suck the fire down into thy very heart；
and let it leap and play around thy every part； so
that thou lose no moiety of its virtue。 Hearest thou
me； Kallikrates？〃
〃I hear thee； Ayesha；〃 answered Leo； 〃but； of a truth…
…I am no cowardbut I doubt me of that raging flame。
How know I that it will not utterly destroy me； so
that I lose myself and lose thee also？ Nevertheless
will I do it；〃 he added。
Ayesha thought for a minute； and then said；
〃It is not wonderful that thou shouldst doubt。 Tell
me； Kallikrates； if thou seest me stand in the flame
and come forth unharmed； wilt thou enter also？'
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃I will enter； even if it slay me。
I have said that I will enter now。〃
〃And that will I also；〃 I cried。
〃What； my Holly！〃 she laughed aloud； 〃methought that
thou wouldst naught of length of days。 Why； how is
this？〃
〃Nay； I know not；〃 I answered； 〃but there is that in
my heart that calleth to me to taste of the flame； and
live。〃
〃It is well；〃 she said。 〃Thou art not altogether lost
in folly。 See now； I will for the second time bathe me
in this living bath。 Fain would I add to my beauty and
my length of days if that be possible。 If it be not
possible； at the least it cannot harm me。
〃Also；〃 she continued； after a momentary pause； 〃is
there another and a deeper cause why I would once
again dip me in the flame。 When first I tasted of its
virtue full was my heart of passion and of hatred of
that Egyptian Amenartas； and therefore； despite my
strivings to be rid thereof； have passion and hatred
been stamped upon my soul from that sad hour to this。
But now it is otherwise。 Now is my mood a happy mood；
and filled am I with the purest part of thought； and
so would I ever be。 Therefore； Kallikrates； will I
once more wash and make me pure and clean； and yet
more fit for thee。 Therefore also； when thou dost in
turn stand in the fire； empty all thy heart of evil；
and let sweet contentment hold the balance of thy
mind。 Shake loose thy spirit's wings； and take thy
stand upon the utter verge of holy contemplation； ay；
dream upon thy mother's kiss； and turn thee towards
the vision of the highest good that hath ever swept on
silver wings across the silence of thy dreams。 For
from the germ of what thou art in that dread moment
shall grow the fruit of what thou shalt be for all
unreckoned time。
〃Now prepare thee； prepare！ even as though thy last
hour were at hand； and thou wast about to cross to the
land of shadows； and not through the gates of glory
into the realms of Life made beautiful。 Prepare； I
say！〃
CHAPTER XXVI
WHAT WE SAW
THEN came a few moments' pause； during which Ayesha
seemed to be gathering up her strength for the fiery
trial； while we clung to each other； and waited in
utter silence。
At last； from far； far away； came the first murmur of
sound； that grew and grew till it began to crash and
bellow in the distance。 As she heard it； Ayesha
swiftly threw off her gauzy wrapping； loosened the
golden snake from her kirtle； and then； shaking her
lovely hair about her like a garment； beneath its
cover slipped the kirtle off and replaced the snaky
belt around her and outside the masses of falling
hair。 There she stood before us as Eve might have
stood before Adam； clad in nothing but her abundant
locks； held round her by the golden band； and no words
of mine can tell how sweet she lookedand yet how
divine。 Nearer and nearer came the thunder wheels of
fire； and as they came she pushed one ivory arm
through the dark masses of her hair and flung it round
Leo's neck。
〃Oh； my love； my love！〃 she murmured； 〃wilt thou ever
know how I have loved thee？〃 and she kisse